Gummadi Venkateswara Rao (born 9 July 1926 – 26 January 2010), known mononymously by his surname Gummadi, was an Indian actor and producer, who worked predominantly in Telugu cinema. Known as one of the finest supporting/character actors in Telugu cinema, Gummadi acted in around five hundred feature films. He received critical recognition for his work in Thodu Dongalu (1954) and Mahamantri Timmarusu (1962), for which he received the erstwhile Rashtrapati Award. Gummadi was an official member of the Indian delegation from South India to the Tashkent Film Festival in 1978 and 1982.
Gummadi served as a jury member thrice for the 28th, 33rd and 39th National Film Awards. He served twice on the state Nandi Awards Committee.
In 1977, he was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian honor Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. He is widely known for his roles in films such as Mayabazar (1957), Maa Inti Mahalakshmi (1959), Kula Daivam (1960), Kula Gothralu (1962), Jyothi (1976), Nelavanka (1981), Maro Malupu (1982), Ekalavya (1982), Ee Charitra Ye Siraatho? (1982), Gaaju Bommalu (1983) and Pelli Pustakam (1991).
In 2008, he starred in Jagadguru Sree Kasinayana Charitra, which would be his last film.
Early career
Characters played by him
Balarama Bhishma Maharishi Bhrigu Chief Minister Dasharatha Diwan Durvasa Jamadagni Kabir Karna Kasinayana
Nanda Parashurama Pothana Principal Timmarusu Vishwamitra Yudhishthira Zamindar
Personal life
Gummadi was married and had five daughters and two sons. He died of multiple organ failure at Care hospital, Hyderabad on 26 January 2010.Gummadi Venkateswara Rao died Breaking News Views. Retrieved on 26 January 2010. His last public appearance was at the screening of Maya Bazar, which had been colourised. Here he expressed his happiness and said, "Watching this great movie in colour probably could have been the only reason for me to have stayed alive for so long."
Written works Gummadi wrote his memoirs of Telugu cinema in Teepi Gurthulu and Chedu Gnapakalu.
Awards Civilian honors Padma Shri - Government of India - 1977
Rashtrapati Awards Best acting for Mahamantri Timmarusu (1963)
Nandi Awards(in Telugu) Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for contribution to Telugu cinema (1998) Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor - Maro Malupu (1982)
Other Honors 1963 - Honorary Doctorate - Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University 1976 - Filmfare Special Award for Excellent Performance - Jyothi
Selected filmography + List of Gummadi film credits Year Title Role Notes 1950 Adrushta Deepudu 1951Navvite Navaratnalu 1953 Pichi Pullayya Bhopala Rao 1954 Thodu Dongalu Lokanatham 1955 Kanyasulkam Sowjanya Rao Pantulu Ardhangi Zameendaar Jayasimha Ranadhir Missamma Employer (guest role) Rani Ratnaprabha Dharmapala1956 Chiranjeevulu Dr. Krishna Edi Nijam Munusabu Ilavelpu Sekhar's father1957 Suvarna SundariTata Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam Tamil film; uncredited Maya Bazaar Balarama Dampatyam Dongallo Dora Inspector Ram Murthy MLA Damodaram Premada Putri Kannada film Preme Daivam Sarangadhara Sati Anasuya Veera Kankanam Vinayaka Chaviti Satrajit1958 Aadapettanam Chenchu Lakshmi Durvasa Dongalunnaru Jagratha Ettuku Pai Ettu Govindaiah Intiguttu Tirumala Rao1959 Illarikam Zamindar Jayabheri Viswanatha Sastri Krishna LeelaluVasudeva Maa Inti Mahalakshmi Nammina Bantu Zamindar Bhujanga Rao Pelli Sandadi Raja Makutam Prachandudu Sabhash Ramudu Sati Tulasi Sipayi Kooturu1960 Deepavali Nagadattudu Harishchandra Vishwamitra Maharshi Pelli Kaanuka Renukadevi Mahatyam Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva ChintamaniEvil sorcerer Shantinivasam Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam Bhrigu Maharshi 1961 Bharya Bharthalu Anand's father Iddaru Mitrulu Bhanoji Rao Rishyashringar Rushyashrunga Santa Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam Vishwamitra Maharshi Tandrulu Kodukulu Vagdanam RanganathamVelugu Needalu1962 Aradhana Principal Bhishma Karna Constable Koothuru Kalimilemulu Khaidi Kannaiah Kula Gothralu Bhushaiah Mahamantri Timmarusu Mahamantri Timmarusu Siri SampadaluJagapati Naidu1963 Chaduvukunna Ammayilu Venkat Rangayya Irugu – Porugu Lakshadhikari Seetayya Mooga Manasulu Zamindar Paruvu Prathishta Punarjanma Zamindar Savati Koduku Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham Yudhishthira Tirupathamma Katha1964 Aatmabalam Psychiatrist Aggimeedha Guggilam as king Dr. Chakravarthy Inspector Sridhar Manchi Manishi Murali Krishna Pooja Phalam Diwan Ramakrishnaiah Ramadasu Kabir Varasatwam1965 Pandava Vanavasam Yudhishthira Aatma Gowravam Ramaiah Antastulu Zamindar Chandrahasa CID Chalapathi Keelu Bommalu Naadi Aada Janme Preminchi Choodu Subbarayudu Satya HarishchandraVisala HrudayaluViswanatham1966 Aastiparulu Zamindar Bhakta Potana PothanaLoguttu PerumallukerukaChidambaram Kanne Manasulu Navarathri Radha's father Palnati Yuddham Shri Krishna Pandaviyam1967 Kambojaraju Katha Poola Rangadu Chalapathi Prana Mithrulu DiwanPattukunte PadiveluSatyamurthy Private Master Sundari's father Rahasyam Sriganda Prabhu1968 Bandhipotu Dongalu Doctor Sudigundalu Defence Lawyer Bangaru Gaajulu Chandra Shekaram Bangaru Sankellu Chuttarikalu Govula Gopanna Chairman Nagaraju Mana SamsaramAggi Meeda Guggilam Pala Manasulu1969Sri Rama KathaMakaradhwaja Maharaju Adrushtavanthalu Aadarsa Kutumbam Aatmiyulu JagannadhamBhale AbbayiluKoteswara Rao Bhale Rangadu Jagath KiladeeluCommissioner Sinha Buddhimanthudu D.E.O Manushulu Marali Shri Rama Katha Tara Sasankam1970 Agni Pareeksha Akka Chellelu Dharmayya Jai Jawan Madhava RaoJagath JetteeluS.P. ChandrashekharAmma KosamRaghurama Rao Maro Prapancham SrideviKathanayika Molla1971 Amayakuralu Bhagyavanthudu Bharya Biddalu Dasara Bullodu Vasu Mosagallaku Mosagadu Daanala Dharmayya Nenu Manishine Prem Nagar Lata's father Sampoorna Ramayanam Dasharadha Shri Krishna Satya Shrimanthudu Sisindri Chittibabu Suputhrudu Vichithra DampathyamPavitra HrudayaluNagendra Babu1972 Bangaru Babu Ranganatham Bala Mitrula Katha Kotaiah Iddaru Ammayilu RamanujamKalavari Kutumbam Madhava RaoManchi Rojulu VachayiSeethanna Kalam Marindi Koduku Kodalu Srihari Rao Neethi Nijayathi Pandanti Kapuram Tata Manavadu Paramatma Rao Vichitra Bandham Ahobila RaoAttanu Diddina Kodalu1973 Jeevana Tarangalu Venugopal Rao Kannavari Kala Mallamma Katha Marapurani Manishi Ananda Rao Minaru Babu Samsaram Sagaram Vichitra Vivaham Vintha KathaMeenaHanumantha Rao1974 Alluri Seetharama Raju Ammayi Pelli Anaganaga Oka Thandri Bhoomikosam Devadasu Dora Babu Gali PataluInspector Sekhar Intinti KathaKhaidi Babai Manushullo Devudu Father1975Moguda PellamaDharma Rao Babu Samsaram Saubhagyavati Soggadu Simhadri Yashoda Krishna Nanda Zamindarugari AmmayiZamindar Srikrishna Rajendra MahipathiLakshmana Rekha Lawyer1976Padi PantaluSeshayya Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam Neram Nadi Kadu Akalidi Manchiki Maro Peru Oka Deepam VeligindhiAmerica Ammayi Padavoyi Bharatheeyuda Secretary Sita Kalyanam Dasaradh Yavanam Katesindi1977 Aalu Magalu Ranga Rao ChakradhariEetharam ManishiVishwanatham Janma janmala bandham Daana Veera Soora Karna Parasu Ramudu Indradhanusu Kalpana Kurukshetram Bhishma Seetha Rama VanavasamSavasagallu1978IndradhanussuRajasekharam Chal Mohana Ranga Sati SavitriChilipi Krishnudu Akbar Saleem Anarkali Devadasu Malli Puttadu Sripathi Raja SahasavanthuduDudu BasavannaYadaiah1979 Captain Krishna Ganga Bhavani Intinti Ramayanam Karthika Deepam Khiladi Krishnudu Mande Gundelu Muddula Koduku Raobahadoor Ranga Rao Heema Hemeelu Naa Illu Naa Vaalu Shri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam Hathiram Bhavaji1980 Mosagadu Bhola Shankarudu Chandipriya Buchi Babu Buchi Babu's grandfatherGharana DongaRaghupathi, Devi's father Gajadonga Gopala Krishnudu Kaksha Sardar Papa Rayudu Shri Vasavi Kannika Parameshwari Mahatyam Sreevari Muchatlu1981 Agni Poolu Rajeshwari's father Alludugaru ZindabadRaja Bhupathi Rao Asha Jyoti Bhoga Bhagyalu Premabhishekam Dr. Venkateswarulu Kotha Jeevithalu Prema Mandiram Bhupati Raja Sandhya RagamJathagaduRangaiah1982Bangaru BhoomiDharma Rao Mondighatam Gruha Pravesam Anuraga Devatha Priest Bangaru Kanuka Ee Charitra Ae Siratho Ekalavya Jagannatha Rathachakralu Kaliyuga Ramudu Maro Malupu Nandi Award for Best Actor Raga Deepam Swayamvaram1983 Sangharshana Idhi Kaadu MugimpuDefence Counsel Prema Pichollu Adavallu AligitheIkanaina Marandi Ee Pillaku Pellavuthundha MLA YedukondaluGopalakrishnaiah Mundadugu Lawyer Nelavanka Sitarama Raju Pelli Choopulu Police Venkataswamy RudrakaliDharma PoratamJustice Jagannath1984 Rustum Brahmaiah NaiduBharatamlo Sankharavam Rojulu MarayiDevanthakuduBapineeduAdigo AlladigoDandayatraKanchu KagadaRangaiah PanthuluE Chaduvulu Makodu1985 Raktha Sindhuram Jagannatham Shri Datta Darshanam JamadagniBangaru ChilakaLawyer Madhava RaoKattula KondayyaJwalaIG1986Driver BabuNarayana Rao Vikram CommissionerMuddula ManavaralluTandra PaparayuduChallani Ramayya Chakkani Seethamma Prathibhavanthudu Kiraathakudu DharmatejaVijrumbhanaDharma Rao1987 Pasivadi Pranam Thene Manasulu Majnu Alekhya's grandfatherAjeyudu Muddu Bidda Makutamleni Maharaju Sivaram Prasad1988Marana MrudangamAnna Chellelu1989State RowdyKrishna Gari AbbayiSimha SwapnamRajakeeya Chadarangam1990 Mamasri Sundara RamaiahInspector Rudra Bobbili Raja Sundaraiah1991 Pelli Pustakam Sridhar Rao Nandi Award for Best Feature FilmBhargavBrahmarshi ViswamitraVashista Talli Tandrulu Venkataramaiah1992 Brundavanam Jagannadham1993 Muta Mesthri Chief Minister GaayamMajor ChandrakanthNaga Jyothi Rajendrudu Gajendrudu Elephant's Master Rajeswari Kalyanam Varasudu PrincipalSrinatha Kavi Sarvabhowmudu1994 Govinda Govinda Doorvasa MaharshiNeramSubhalagnam Lawyer1995 Maya Bazaar Balarama Aayanaki Iddaru Krishna Mohan's father1996 Dharma Chakram 2001 Repallelo Radha 2008 Jagadguru Sri Kasinayana Charitra Kasinayana 2022 Pratibimbalu Posthumous film
See also Raghupathi Venkaiah Award
References
External links